Posts Tagged ‘Rhee Gold’

DanceLife Retreat Center; photo courtesy DSL

It may seem far away, but in the dance studio business it’s never too early to think about fall.

Rhee Gold has his eye on autumn as well, and is designing three very special DanceLife Retreat Center seminars perfect for both studio owners and teachers.

November 2 to 3 will bring the Ballet Edition, an intense focus on concepts to help you build a strong ballet base for students from beginner through advanced levels, with Rhee Gold and Ronnie Mahler.

“The Future” Edition, set for November 9 to 10, will focus on curriculum for ages 8 and under with a “back to basics” look at classes such as Mommy and Me, creative movement, and pre-ballet. Enrich your knowledge and that of your faculty with practical and age-appropriate teaching techniques.

November 16 to 17 is the Competition Edition. Gold goes through all you need to know to ensure a successful competition season—from what to charge for rehearsals to how to control those parents; from doling out solos to building team morale.

All seminars take place at the DanceLife Retreat Center,155 Pine Street, Norton, Massachusetts. Visit http://www.danceliferetreat.com/#!curriculum/ctgl for all the details.

Rhee Gold; photo courtesy DSL

There’s a gorgeous woodland setting, a newly built oversized cabin, fabulous catered food, and friendly colleagues. Even with all that, the main thing that brings studio owners back again and again is the satisfaction of a personalized DanceLife experience.

Three-day DanceLife Retreat Center workshops come complete with all the motivational support and business-organizational advice that you’d expect from dance education expert Rhee Gold—but in an intimate session of no more than 30 participants. At the Retreat Center, Gold speaks to YOU personally, in information-filled lectures and informal chat sessions.

Have a difficult situation or a challenging problem? In this intimate, relaxed setting, he’ll be happy to brainstorm solutions with you, point you in a new direction, or offer some advice gleamed from his lifetime growing up, working, and thriving in the dance studio industry.

Session start in June and run through the summer and fall. Check it all out today at www.danceliferetreat.com.

DanceLife Retreat Center; photo courtesy DSL

When Rhee Gold was designing his new DanceLife Retreat Center, top priority was creating an environment where dance teachers and studio directors could relax, chill out, and feel the pressure of the dance studio business lift off their shoulders.

Inside, the comfortable cabin-in-the-woods feel encourages seminar attendees to stretch out on the plush rug or sink into an overstuffed coach in the great room, nibble a snack in the inviting kitchen, or check emails as the daylight stream in through the elegant wall-to-ceiling windows.

Outside, take a dip (or just dip your toes) in the sparkling in-ground pool, join a conversation on the open-air porch, or admire the deep woods view while taking a break on the patio. And everywhere, helpful staff persons (including Gold himself!) are on hand to make sure you are comfortable and content.

In between all that relaxing, Gold leads you and other seminar attendees through business and creative-oriented sessions guaranteed to help you take a fresh look at your studio business—and rejuvenate your lifelong passion for dance education.

Three-day sessions start in June. For all the details, visit http://www.danceliferetreat.com/#.

DLTC conference; photo courtesy DSL

“Thank you for giving me such a golden opportunity!”

Misty Christopher-Mollitor of Dance Dimensions of SWFL wrote to Dance Studio Life to thank Jackrabbit Dance and all the companies who sponsored scholarships in the recent DanceLife Teacher Conference video competition.

“I have wanted to attend a DanceLife Teacher Conference for years, and something has always taken priority. It always seems that my family, my kids, studio priorities, or finances take the front seat, and my ‘want list’ sits anxiously in the back seat waiting for a turn. Every time I start a new dance season, I regret that I didn’t get to attend the convention to get the much-needed fresh motivation and fresh ideas for the upcoming year.

“This year there are no more excuses! Rhee Gold and the DLTC are now in the front seat, and I’m driving full steam ahead to get a healthy new outlook on dance, my business, and my career, thanks to all of you!”

Christopher-Mollitor, who has been teaching for 30 years and runs two studios in two states, knows firsthand the often “overwhelming, exhausting” job of a studio director, and didn’t even realize DLTC scholarships were available until her students submitted a winning video.

“As I listened, tears rolled down my face at the beautiful things that the students said about me and all the time that it took to make the video. It really made me feel loved, and past emotions of not being appreciated were all erased. It’s amazing what ‘Thank you’ and other kind words can do!”

“This video was the beginning of becoming more inspired, and ready to teach and carry on my love for dance for many more years to come. The trip to Arizona to the DLTC will be one of my greatest gifts, and just what I need as a teacher/owner to continue to share my love of dance with students and families for years to come.”

To learn more about the DLTC, summer and fall session at the DanceLife Retreat Center, and other programs for dance teachers and studio owners, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com and www.danceliferetreat.com.

DanceLife Retreat Center; photo courtesy DSL

Some days don’t you just wish you could vent about the crazy, complicated dance studio world to someone who truly understands? Then sign up for one of the summer sessions at the DanceLife Retreat Center and spend a weekend with adults who know exactly what you’re going through—and who care.

Limited to 30 participants, DanceLife Retreat seminars are not only a chance to learn successful strategies for running both the business and creative end of your studio, but three blissful days surrounded by colleagues with a passion for quality dance education. Rhee Gold has spent his entire career encouraging teachers and studio owners to stay strong, believe in themselves, and focus on providing the best dance education they can for all their students—a dance philosophy rooted in positivity that’s shared by educators from across the country and the world who attend his seminars and conventions.

Come spend a weekend in Gold’s rustic hideaway in the pine forests of Norton, Massachusetts, and make personal connections that you will keep for a lifetime. Not only do attendees trade advice and troubleshoot issues as they enjoy scrumptious catered meals and informal jam sessions, the conversation with these new friends continues every day on the DanceLife Retreat Center Facebook page.

Talk dance, make friends, relax. It’s the perfect summer self-indulgence.

Friday/Saturday/Sunday sessions are set for June 14 to 16, July 12 to 14, July 19 to 21, August 16 to 18, and August 23 to 25; plus July 7 to 9 (Sunday/Monday/Tuesday). Visit http://www.danceliferetreat.com/ for all the details.

Dance Studio Life, a magazine with a back-to-basics approach, is a division of the Rhee Gold Company, whose mission is to be at the forefront of dance and education by promoting the highest possible standards in teaching. Dance Studio Life understands the soul of the teaching field.

COLUMNS
Ask Rhee Gold Advice for dance teachers
2 Tips for Ballet Teachers | At the Barre By David Arce
2 Tips for Hip-Hop Teachers | Slides By Geo Hubela
2 Tips for Modern Teachers | Discovering the Spine By Bill Evans
2 Tips for Tap Teachers | Turns and Flaps By Gregg Russell
A Better You | Shape Up for Summer By Suzanne Martin, PT, DPT
EditorSpeak By Karen White and Lisa Okuhn
FYI What’s Up In the dance community
On My Mind | Words from the Publisher By Rhee Gold

DEPARTMENTS
Classroom Connection  By Debbie Werbrouck and Debra Danese
Ideas to incorporate into your curriculum
Click! | A new look for the DanceLife Retreat Center website  
Online must-sees from the Rhee Gold Company
Mail Words from our readers
Mindful Marketing | Tempting Adults With Tap By Thelma Goldberg
Teacher in the Spotlight | Lisa Swenton-Eppard Teachers who make a difference  
Thinking Out Loud | Dancing Again, Ballroom Style  By Lois O’Brian

FEATURES
Ballet Scene | Ballet Meets Ethnic in Atlanta By Mary Ellen Hunt
Ballethnic’s uncommon blend of African and European dance.
Bright Biz Idea | Business No-Brainer By Julie Holt Lucia
Better at choreographing than accounting? Let a financial whiz handle the numbers.
Capturing the Truth By Joseph Carman
Rose Eichenbaum’s personal view of the icons of dance.
Dancing Big By Ryan P. Casey
Jimmy Locust’s kid-oriented mission matches his high -energy career.
Hooked on Horton By Eliza Randolph
Ana Marie Forsythe on Lester Horton’s legacy and the need for codified modern dance.
Inside the Dancer By Kerry Ring
Why you should learn what makes your students soar or stumble.
Making Space for Modern By Bonner Odell 
Why offer modern dance? Five reasons to get you motivated.
Tap Festivals
A guide to 2013 tap festivals in the U.S. and abroad
Tap Pups, Top Dogs By Kay Waters
Teaching older students new tricks.
You Say ‘Modern’… By Jennifer Kaplan
I say ‘contemporary.’ Rethinking the nature of ever-evolving dance.
.

Words from the publisher

When was the last time you took a vacation? How about a day off just to rest and refuel? If you’re like many of the dance teachers and school owners I talk to, you’ll say you don’t have the time or the money. If that sounds like you, then maybe it’s time to rethink your priorities.

Most school owners will spend money on a dressmaker to alter recital costumes; that’s certainly an expense that can be justified. You can easily rationalize laying out cash for basic equipment, the newest technological advances, and more faculty. Covering costs for a few kids who still owe payments for their ballet shoes is OK, too. And that visiting choreographer you brought in for the seniors? Sure, her time was expensive, but you felt obligated to make the seniors feel special during their last year at the studio.

Another thing we spend like it’s small change is our time. Texting, emailing, and checking our Facebook pages hourly are important. The many all-day rehearsals to get the kids ready for performances are time well spent. And you had to spend a couple of days at the studio during the holiday break to get caught up after the first four months of the season, right? And that half a day spent on the phone with an irate mom, trying to convince her to keep her daughter in the school—surely that was worthwhile.

But if I suggested that you spend a few days away doing something for yourselves, I’ll bet your immediate reaction would be to feel guilty for even thinking about it. And what would others, especially your clients, think when they found out you spent money and time on yourself? Oh no. They would make nice gifts for someone else, but time for relaxation and replenishment aren’t things you give to yourself.

Dig a little deeper and you’ll probably discover that almost everything you do is part of keeping the business of life under control—and attempting to please those around you. Maybe it’s time to cut back on the number of days of rehearsal, or stop giving out your personal phone number to your students’ parents. Maybe it’s time to stop long enough to fuel your own soul. A few days to tend to yourself might actually allow you to enjoy all the rest of your days a little more.

Yes, you deserve it. You probably have trouble accepting that because saying we deserve something makes most of us feel self-serving. I am not sure if I feel bad about writing those words—you deserve it, I deserve it, we all deserve it—but I think I’ll figure it out on my vacation!

DanceLife Retreat Center; photo courtesy DSL

“This was the most amazing weekend I have had in a long time! It is with an uplifted spirit but a heavy heart that I am leaving.”

That sentiment was voiced by Neala Dunn of Dance Alive, Bourbonnais, Illinois, but shared by many of the studio owners and teachers who attended last year’s inaugural season at the DanceLife Retreat Center.

Based upon the accolades and thanks that poured in from participants, the unique three-day sessions designed by Rhee Gold specifically to address the business, creative, and motivational needs of studio owners and dance teachers were a huge hit.

“It was a difficult decision to spend the money for both my daughter and myself to come to this retreat, but it was worth every cent. You are a warm, caring, and inspiring person. You have changed my life, business, and my students’ lives for the better by inspiring me and giving me the tools and renewed inspiration to continue to do what I love and do best,” said Kathie Morris of Kats Dance Centre, Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

The seminar price includes all activities at the Retreat Center including lectures and classes, manuals and other materials, catered lunches and dinners, snacks, and beverages, plus shuttle service to the nearby Holiday Inn (which offers a special discounted rate for attendees).

Interested? Don’t hesitate, because all seminars are limited to 30 attendees. Summer sessions in 2013 have been set for June 14 to 16, July 7 to 9, July 12 to 14, July 19 to 21, August 16 to 18, and August 23 to 25. Visit www.danceliferetreat.com for more information.

DanceLife Retreat Center; photo courtesy DSL

It’s almost here! The second summer season of three-day business sessions with Rhee Gold promises to be an inspirational and informative one for the studio owners and teachers heading to the DanceLife Retreat Center in Norton, Massachusetts.

Space is still available for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday sessions on June 14 to 16, July 12 to 14, July 19 to 21, August 16 to 18, and August 23 to 25; plus July 7 to 9 (Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday).

In the quiet seclusion of the sparkling new Retreat Center, participants can rest and rejuvenate as they learn how to maximize the potential of their dance studio business. Limited to 30 teachers and school owners, each session will be led personally by Gold, who shares advice and strategies collected over a lifetime of business success.

Seminar sessions will touch on some of the most pressing topics for studio owners: from income-generating strategies to innovative marketing techniques, maximizing managerial effectiveness to enhancing communication, and step-by-step instruction on creating clear and useful policies. In this relaxed and comfortable environment, participants will collect the information they need to help them amp up their studio’s ultimate potential.

“For those who are ready to explore new business strategies and rejuvenate your dance spirit, I guarantee you a one-of-a-kind experience,” Gold said. “You will learn, grow, laugh, definitely make new friends, and gain the confidence to make your business the best it can be.”

To learn more, visit http://www.danceliferetreat.com.

Nancy Stone; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Nancy Stone.

When did you first start dancing and why?
Nancy: I was about 9 years old. A traveling dance teacher visited our town once a week and taught class. That was the first time I had a chance to dance.

Did you ever seriously consider a career in another field? What was it?
Nancy: I wanted to go into the medical field.

What person/event was the biggest inspiration in your life?
Nancy: Many people nurtured and cared for me. My father died when I was 9. I was an only child and I had many guardian angels that inspired me.

What do you see as the most-pressing challenge facing dance studio directors/teachers today?
Nancy: Fighting all the other activities that children do.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Nancy O’Meara; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Nancy O’Meara

What do you do for fun (other than dance)?
Nancy: I try to make everything fun. I love fun.

What is your favorite movie/book/TV show?
Nancy: My favorite movie is Patch Adams. My favorite book is currently Fifty Shades of Grey Books 1 and 2, but I don’t think Rhee will let me print that answer! Favorite TV show is 30 Rock. I love to laugh.

What was the hardest thing you ever did in dance?
Nancy: Moving to Los Angeles and making a living at my craft.

A genie in a bottle is granting you three wishes: what are they?
Nancy: 1. For every homeless person to have a roof over their head. 2. For a doctor to tell me cheeseburgers are healthy. 3. That every child be exposed to the beauties and possibilities of dance.

What has dance meant to you in your life?
Nancy: Dance is my recipe to life. I still tap dance in the shower.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Maureen Gelchion Corso; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Maureen Gelchion Corso.

In your opinion, who is the greatest dancer to ever dance? The greatest choreographer? The greatest teacher?
Maureen: Dancers: Natalia Makarova, Anthony Dowell, Fernando Bujones, and Alicia Alonso. Choreographer: Marius Petipa. My greatest dance teacher was Peter Nelson, and my greatest life lesson teachers are my husband and Rhee Gold.

What do you see as the most pressing challenge facing dance studio directors/teachers today?Maureen: For studio owners/directors: there are many, but I think sticking to your studio policies and making sure your staff and faculty on 100 percent on board with you is most important. For teachers: there are also many things facing teachers today. For me, it is making the students really think about what they are learning and why they are dancing.

What has dance meant to you in your life?
Maureen: When I danced it was my passion, my fuel, my escape!

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Misty Lown; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Misty Lown.

What do you like best about teaching at the DLTC?
Misty: I love teaching for Rhee’s DLTC! There is literally something for everyone at this conference—no one gets left behind. Attendees can get motivated in the business sessions and refreshed in the dance sessions. You will laugh and you will cry. But most of all, you will remember why you became a dance teacher or studio owner in the first place.

If Rhee could hold his DLTC anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
Misty: Well, I am from the frozen tundra of Wisconsin, so I would have to vote for somewhere tropical mid-January . . . ha!

If the DLTC attendees could only take home one lesson/message from your classes, what would it be?
Misty: Hope. You can do it! Seriously! You can make a life (and a living) doing what you love. It may not look like what you thought it would, but it will be beautiful. Never, never, never give up!

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Hedy Perna; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Hedy Perna.

What is your version of the perfect day?
Hedy: Doing absolutely nothing. It doesn’t happen often, so that’s why it would be perfect.

If you could have lunch with three great villains from history or fiction, who would they be?
Hedy: Not a fan or very interested in villains; however, I’d take a lunch with the Wicked Witch of the West. She definitely needed some make-up tips.

If you were a superhero, what special skill would you like to have?
Hedy: I would fly. I’m always running not to be late, so I’d get there faster by flying. Or I would have the ability to be invisible. It would be fun—and I would even go out into the lobby [of my studio] and listen to what’s going on.

A genie in a bottle is granting you three wishes: what are they?
Hedy: Health for my family, happiness for my family, and a little more time in each day for sleep.

What has dance meant to you in your life?
Hedy: Everything. It’s my passion, my creativity, my discipline. And since it’s a family business (my husband and I both work at the studio), it is my livelihood and my future.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Madam Peff Modelski; photo courtesy DLTC

Madam Peff Modelski; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Madam Peff Modelski.

What do you do for fun (other than dance)?
Peff: I love needlework. I mostly love to crochet and knit toys and flowers, but I also do Kumihimo, which is a Japanese form of counted braiding. I am looking forward to learning how to spin, weave, and tat, which is lace-making. I learned to embroider in first grade, and my mother taught me to sew while she was making my clothes and costumes.

What is your favorite movie/book/TV show?
Peff: Movies: The Gods Must Be Crazy, The Princess Bride. TV: Great Performances, Dance in America, and Live at Lincoln Center. Book: Jonathan Livingston Seagull—because anything is possible!

What was the hardest thing you ever did in dance?
Peff: Learning fouettés on pointe to the left; and my whole first year learning Graham technique at age 12.

What has been your greatest accomplishment?
Peff: Making a living only as a dancer/teacher my whole life, and raising a child as a single parent in New York City. I battled severe asthma for most of my life up until 12 years ago, so every breath was an accomplishment!

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Gregg Russell; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Gregg Russell.

What is your favorite movie/book/TV show?
Gregg: Movie: The Nightmare Before Christmas. Book: The Alchemist. TV show: It’s a toss-up between Family Guy and Fringe.

If you could have lunch with three great villains from history or fiction, who would they be?
Gregg: Interesting question: I think it would be interesting to meet Lee Harvey Oswald, John Wilkes Booth, and the Unabomber.

If you were a superhero, what special skill would you like to have?
Gregg: The ability to stop time.

A genie in a bottle is granting you three wishes: what are they?
Gregg: 1. Financial security 2. Good health 3. More wishes!

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Stacy Eastman; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Stacy Eastman.

When did you first start dancing and why?
Stacy: My aunt owned a dance studio and she was my babysitter, so I was always at the studio with her. The rest is history.

What person/event has been the biggest inspiration in your life?
Stacy: My mother and my aunt are two of the biggest inspirations in my life. In the earlier years of my life I would have to say my aunt, who was my dance teacher, truly inspired me to be the best I can be. A few years ago my mother got sick and I see her struggle on a daily basis, and she is so strong, so she inspires me to be more positive.

What has dance meant to you in your life?
Stacy: Dance has been the biggest part of my life. I am lucky to have a career that is not really a job, and I get to work with children whom I love and I get to be a big part of their lives—which is awesome. It has allowed me to travel the world and meet many people who are now my best friends—that’s one of the best parts of this crazy life.

I always say, “We are dancers, we are different,” and it’s the truth. We just get things that others don’t. I am so glad I get to share that with a lot of my students and friends. Dance is something I have always loved and always will, and it definitely defines who I am in a lot of ways.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Mike Wittmers; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Mike Wittmers.

Did you ever seriously consider a career in another field? What was it?
Mike: Back in high school, I wanted to be a sports broadcaster. I am still a huge sports fan.

What do you like best about teaching at the DLTC?
Mike: I love the instant reaction I get from other dance educators when I share pieces of information and their faces light up with that “ah-ha” moment. . . . It really makes me feel like I am making a positive impact in the dance community.

If the DLTC attendees could only take home one lesson/message from your classes, what would it be?
Mike: Learn music and musicality. Dance is music first, movement second. If nobody wants to listen to a singer who is off key, they certainly don’t want to watch a dancer who doesn’t hear/feel music.

What person/event was the biggest inspiration in your life?
Mike: The biggest tap and musical theater inspiration in my life was Gregory Hines. I got to see him on Broadway in Jelly’s Last Jam.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Diane Gudat; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we learn more about Diane Gudat.

What person/event was the biggest inspiration in your life?
Diane: The birth of my children probably tops it all. When you realize that you have the ability to create such beauty, and then have the responsibility to protect and nurture it, it’s pretty life changing.

What do you do for fun (other than dance)?
Diane: I enjoy drawing and studying French. I’m mediocre at both!

What is your favorite movie/book/TV show?
Diane: One of my all-time favorite movies to quote is Drop Dead Gorgeous. I also enjoy the series of [Christopher Guest] movies that includes Best in Show. When I watch a movie I want to relax and laugh! I enjoy a good sitcom and would love to be a comedy writer on a show like Modern Family or The Middle. I am sad to say that I am addicted to several reality shows, my favorites being The Amazing Race, Project Runway, and The Biggest Loser!

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Derrick Yanford; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Derrick Yanford.

What has been your greatest accomplishment?
Derrick: I’m going to replace greatest with most memorable for I don’t wish to rate or compare them to each other—they are all great!

As an amateur: achieving my goal of winning the titles of Mr. Dance of America and America’s Dancer of the Year.

As a professional dancer: probably my first professional gig. I was so young and had only been dancing for a short while, so I’m pretty proud of that. Also, being chosen to dance with Ballet Hispanico. They were only looking for one male dancer. I was only 20 and a sophomore in college, and was in the audition with some really talented seniors from my school. But they chose me . . . that was cool!

As a choreographer: the last performance of my company, Bridge Dance Concepts. We performed at the EDANCO Dance Festival in Santo Domingo last September and were very well received. The show order changed for the second night to allow us to close the show and the festival. I love what I came up with, and my dancers performed beautifully. It was a really great experience.

As a teacher: the many offers I’ve been given to teach around the world. I have been fortunate to have been contacted by people whom I’ve never met, asking me to teach for them based on what they heard about my teaching style, or by either watching me teach, taking a class, or through word of mouth passed along by my students or colleagues. I feel very fortunate and blessed to have the respect of my contemporaries.

As a person: without a doubt my 15 soon-to-be 16-year relationship with the love of my life. I am so glad the universe brought us together, and I’m looking forward to the next 15.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Ashley Stone; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Ashley Stone.

What do you see as the most-pressing challenge facing dance studio directors/teachers today?
Ashley: Keeping high school children dancing despite their varied commitments to school and other after-school activities.

What do you like best about teaching at the DLTC?
Ashley: I like teaching at DLTC because I like that there’s a young people’s forum where we can really relate on another level—a personal one.

 If Rhee could hold his DLTC anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
Ashley: Australia. As long as I can get there for free!

If the DLTC attendees could only take home one lesson/message from your classes, what would it be?
Ashley: I will be talking about the passing of the torch from one generation to the next, and so I would want people to remember that on the toughest days, there are always better ones ahead.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Dance Studio Life, a magazine with a back-to-basics approach, is a division of the Rhee Gold Company, whose mission is to be at the forefront of dance and education by promoting the highest possible standards in teaching. Dance Studio Life understands the soul of the teaching field.

COLUMNS
Ask Rhee Gold Advice for dance teachers
2 Tips for Ballet Teachers | Rigor and Nuance By Mignon Furman
2 Tips for Hip-Hop Teachers | The Shoulder Bounce By Geo Hubela
2 Tips for Modern Teachers | Investigations By Bill Evans
2 Tips for Tap Teachers | Shuffles and Pullbacks By Gregg Russell
A Better You | Getting Out with Grace By Suzanne Martin, PT, DPT
EditorSpeak By Karen White and Lisa Okuhn
On My Mind | Words from the Publisher By Rhee Gold

DEPARTMENTS
Classroom Connection  By Kerry Ring and Lizanne McAdams-Graham
Ideas to incorporate into your curriculum
Click! | New DanceLife Teacher Conference website
Online must-sees from the Rhee Gold Company
FYI What’s up in the dance community
Mail Words from our readers
Mindful Marketing | Marketing Ideas for Summer By Teri Mangiaratti
Teacher in the Spotlight | Erin Spriggs Teachers who make a difference  
Thinking Out Loud | Hip-Hop Gold  By Carol Crawford Smith

FEATURES
Ballet Scene | Russia Calling By Joshua Bartlett
For authentic Vaganova training, head to St. Petersburg.
Bright Biz Idea | Rehearsals Made Simple  By Karen White
Online scheduler takes the pain out of private rehearsal planning and payment
Higher-Ed Voice | Dance Steps, Next Steps By Lisa Okuhn
A San Francisco school helps teens navigate the path to college dance programs.
Kicking Off Summer By Megan Donahue
In five short weeks, Kick Start gets kids jazzed for fall.
Stay-at-Home Summer Dance Intensive By Julie Holt Lucia
How to challenge and transform dancers right in your own backyard.
Summer Inspiration on a Shoestring By Julie Holt Lucia
Do-it-yourself staff development and continuing education.
Summertime Teacher Training 
Your guide to workshops and intensives across the U.S. and beyond.
Top of the Class By Jennifer Kaplan
Never mind the trophies and the technique-dance honor societies value effort and commitment

.

Nancy Stone; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Nancy Stone.

What do you like best about teaching at the DLTC?
Nancy: I am on a high from the minute I am asked until days after it is over. It is inspiring for dance teachers and faculty alike.

If Rhee could hold his DLTC anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
Nancy: Italy, my favorite place on earth.

If the DLTC attendees could only take home one lesson/message from your classes, what would it be?
Nancy: Love what you do and do your very best.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Nancy O’Meara; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Nancy O’Meara.

What is your version of the perfect day?
Nancy: Well, I’m on a plane to Las Vegas . . . and so far it’s perfect.

If you could have lunch with three great villains from history or fiction, who would they be?
Nancy: Hmmm . . . no villains come to mind. . . . But I would love to have lunch with Johnny Carson, Lucille Ball, Brit Hume, and Sherry Gold. And Robin Williams would be my waiter.

If you were a superhero, what special skill would you like to have?
Nancy: I would have the ability to stop hate and anger in the world. Maybe with a magic device like they have in Men in Black . . . “look into my light” and bam—no more hate or the ability to take a life.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Misty Lown; photo courtesy DLTC

When did you first start dancing and why?
Misty: I was born with a clubfoot and had childhood asthma. My mom enrolled me in ballet at age 3 to help with the asthma and to help strengthen my foot, which by that time had been broken and reset in a forward-facing position.

Did you ever seriously consider a career in another field? What was it?
Misty: Yes. Believe it or not, I went to college to be a Spanish teacher. I thought it would be a nice, “safe” career. I even spent a month in Guatemala honing my skills. But my first student-teaching experience in a Spanish classroom was a huge disappointment.

I remember standing in front of a room of high-school students who could not have cared less about conversational Spanish or verb conjugations (which I thought were kind of fun!). It was such a contrast to the excitement I saw from my students at the dance studio!

I did end up finishing my master’s in education, but wrote a tap curriculum for my exit project instead of a Spanish curriculum. Then, I put aside the “safe” path and followed my heart; throwing everything I had into opening a dance studio and developing my true love—teaching dance!

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Words from the publisher

We are in conference mode here at the Rhee Gold Company and Dance Studio Life. What started as Project Motivate with 20 attendees in 1998 has morphed into the DanceLife Teacher Conference, which attracts more than 700 teachers, school owners, and studio managers from across the United States and Canada, and from as far away as Italy and Australia.

As we celebrate our 15th anniversary as conference producers, we’ll offer more than ever—well over 100 classes and seminars in the first four days of August, presented at the five-diamond Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. The diverse faculty includes some of the brightest minds in the field, coming from backgrounds in hip-hop, classical ballet, tap, contemporary, jazz, preschool education, and more.

It’s important, I believe, to get back to basics with dance classes. Although there are numerous conventions that offer advanced master classes, few provide the chance to learn new concepts for preschool, beginner, and intermediate students. Yet these classes are exactly what every school owner or teacher needs to do well, in order to maintain their school’s financial health.

A full track of business sessions for studio owners includes concepts and techniques for marketing, office organization, summer programs, websites and social media, building new profit centers, plus more. In addition, there will be special sessions for studio managers and closed “studio owner only” events.

Since communication is key in dance education, many schools have brought their entire faculty and staff to our last few conferences to ensure that everyone is learning and sharing with a singular mind-set. Often, while the teachers take classes, the studio managers and school owners attend the business seminars. Together they build camaraderie and bring a bounty of new ideas back to their home studios.

As the conference director, I have a goal of bringing the dance community together to share a love for the art of dance, while simultaneously providing opportunities to learn and grow as professionals—and thus improve as teachers and as business owners. I look at the conference as a way for attendees to rejuvenate their dance spirit, build confidence, and learn new teaching skills that will not only improve students technically but also inspire them to develop a lifelong passion for dance.

As I look back to the beginning of my journey as a conference producer, I remember the skeptics who told me that dance teachers and school owners were too competitive to want to share their knowledge. My instincts told me that wasn’t true. As the DanceLife Teacher Conference has proved over and over again, dance educators embrace the chance to communicate and to celebrate their common bond.

Maureen Gelchion Corso; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Maureen Gelchion Corso.

When did you first start dancing and why?
Maureen: I started dancing when I was 9 years old. My mother took me to see the Joffrey Ballet at City Center and I was hooked!

Did you ever seriously consider a career in another field? What was it?
Maureen: Yes, I was an audiology and speech pathology major in college. I went on to pursue my master’s degree at New York University in audiology and deafness rehabilitation, but the Joffrey Ballet School was too close to NYU!

What person/event was the biggest inspiration in your life?
Maureen: My mother was the biggest inspiration in my life. She was a confident and smart businesswoman. As for an event, it was watching my husband (DLTC faculty member Tony Corso) valiantly go through chemotherapy and not complain once about anything.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

 Online must-sees from the Rhee Gold Company

The next DanceLife Teacher Conference is coming up this summer, held August 1 through 4, at the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. And now you can see the most updated schedules and faculty roster at the brand-new DanceLife Teacher Conference website. Visit dancelifeteacherconference.com, and come back for updates!

dancestudiolife.com | dancelifeTV.com | danceliferetreat.com
positivedance.com | dsldancewire.com

Madame Peff Modelski; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Madame Peff Modelski.

What do you see as the most pressing challenge facing dance studio directors/teachers today?

Peff: Commitment and appropriate behavior from students and parents. I feel that parents must be educated as to proper etiquette (sadly missing in this whole country), and that students must learn to work constantly and consistently, and learn to recognize the good feeling of self-reliance in learning to move beautifully.

A dance career is not a Christmas present that someone hands you—you must work for it, because living the process is what makes it an art form. Technique is a necessary tool for the expression of the shape of music and words. The process is messy, and has challenges and disappointments. Learning to keep your enthusiasm, to believe in yourself and your identity through the darkest parts, is what makes you able to bear the physical work of long rehearsal hours. The reward is every minute! There is no room for temper tantrums or jealousy—you should be busy working on your own technique.

Parents and students also need to understand that although it is nice to have “friends in class at the studio” and such (according to the American Dream), in fact, the dancer is his or her own best friend until they are grown up and working. Then you can make friends to trust with your dreams and fears.

The training world of dance is not a democracy, so the boundaries keep the student dancers safe [by teaching them to] know what to do and what not to do.

Teachers and studio owners deserve to feel confident in their ideals for a well-run studio, and that includes proper behavior from and to everyone. That includes how students, parents, and teachers are perceived outside the studio when they are part of daily life.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Hedy Perna; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Hedy Perna.

What do you do for fun (other than dance)?
Hedy: Hang out with my best friend, Pat. He loves to vacation. I’ll tolerate it for him.

What is your favorite movie/book/TV show?
Hedy: Movie: Holiday Inn. Book: I’m not much of a reader, but I’ll take a romance novel on the beach. TV show: currently I’m addicted to the ID [Investigation Discovery] network. I love mysteries; [shows like] Wives with Knives, My Life is a Lifetime Movie, Who The (Bleep) Did I Marry?, etc. But I really love vintage I Love Lucy, or the Carol Burnett or Dean Martin shows. And I’m guilty of watching any Real Housewives.

What has been your greatest accomplishment?
Hedy: Personally: being married for 26 years to a man who is my soul mate and lover. I waited to get married and then waited 10 years to have a baby, which takes planning, determination, and luck. Sounds corny, but I am blessed to have a wonderful husband and a great teenage daughter.

Professionally: growing and nurturing a large recreational studio that employees many teachers. I’m proud of that.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Gregg Russell; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Gregg Russell.

In your opinion, who is the greatest dancer to ever dance? The greatest choreographer? The greatest teacher?
Gregg: Such a broad question. How do you rate artistry, relevance, and passion? So . . . for me, individuals that have affected me personally: Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, the Nicholas Brothers, Henry LeTang, Frank Hatchett, Debbi Dee, Keith Clifton. Ask me in a year and this will change!

What do you see as the most-pressing challenge facing dance studio directors/teachers today?
Gregg: Keeping up with the social times, but still instilling the old-school principles of discipline, dedication, and desire.

What is your version of the perfect day?
Gregg: Being with loved ones and friends; having a day where I have an outline of things to do, but on my own time.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Stacy Eastman; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Stacy Eastman.

What do you like best about teaching at the DLTC?
Stacy: Helping as many people as I can feel refreshed about what they love, passing on new ideas, and being surrounded by a faculty of people who I grew up being inspired by. I am a teacher myself, so I know exactly what they are feeling, and I look forward to sitting in and learning from the other faculty members.

If Rhee could hold his DLTC anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
Stacy: Italy or Hawaii.

If the DLTC attendees could only take home one lesson/message from your classes, what would it be?
Stacy: Just to feel that they were refreshed and learned some new techniques that are presented in a different way, and to know they are not the only ones feeling the pressures of studio life.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Mike Wittmers; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Mike Wittmers.

In your opinion, who is the greatest dancer to ever dance? The greatest choreographer? The greatest teacher?
Mike: In my opinion, the greatest dancer to ever dance was Gene Kelly. He could do everything and truly made dance masculine. The greatest choreographer was Bob Fosse. I grew up in musical theater and learned Fosse at an early age. He could make anyone look great on stage. The greatest teacher was Al Gilbert. His vision of tap and dance is still being passed on today.

What do you see as the most-pressing challenge facing dance studio directors/teachers today?
Mike: Parents. They refuse to take the time to read any information given to them. They are at a point now where they will openly tell us to our faces, “Oh, I didn’t bother to read that e-mail. Can you just tell me what applies to me?” It’s very difficult to get kids to focus and pay attention when their parents can’t even do it.

What has dance meant to you in your life?
Mike: My mom was my first dance teacher. It’s given me a special connection with her for life. Dance has also given me the opportunity to meet amazing, new people, travel the world, and share my gift of rhythm and musicality. It’s allowed me to make a living for myself, and now that I own a studio with my fiancé, it will help provide for our future family.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Diane Gudat; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Diane Gudat.

When did you first start dancing and why?
Diane: My dad’s mother was a dance teacher in Danville, Illinois. All five of his brothers and sisters performed throughout the Midwest during the late ’30s and ’40s as the O’Riley Tapticians. My uncle continued to dance as part of the USO in World War II and later in New York and Chicago. It was a family legacy that I felt I was missing out on. Money was tight, but I finally received my once-a-week ballet class as my Christmas present when I was in 6th grade.

Although my grandmother passed away while my father was still in high school, I also felt the pull to teach. I started assisting with preschool classes when I was 13 and never stopped. I am proud that my teaching paid for my daughter’s degree in dance, and now she is a dance teacher, too!

Did you ever seriously consider a career in another field? What was it?
Diane: My father was a funeral director. He spent most of his life building his business. When I began college there was a law that a funeral home had to be in the name of the owner. Neither of my brothers was interested in taking on the business, and although it wasn’t my cup of tea, when I started college I had plans to fulfill the undergrad requirements to attend mortuary college. I soon realized that it was not my calling.

Luckily, the laws changed and my husband decided to go to school and take over the business, which he owns and runs today! My interests quickly shifted to graphic art, and although I never completed a degree, I still enjoy sketching.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Derrick Yanford; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we learn continue our conversation with Derrick Yanford.

What do you like best about teaching at the DLTC?
Derrick: For me it has always been about sharing the knowledge I have acquired. That’s all teaching really is. We all have so many different thoughts, ideas, and approaches to the same thing. So being able to share what I’ve learned with others, hoping that it helps to shape the viewpoint they already have into a clearer vision that they can relate back to the students, is what I am always looking forward to doing. I love my job.

If Rhee could hold his DLTC anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
Derrick: Selfishly? Fiji or South Africa. Or Hawaii. I’ve never been but always wanted to go. I love being away in gorgeous weather near the water. But more realistically, I would have to say Amsterdam or New York City. I live in New York—it’s the dance capital of the world. Great restaurants, shopping, shows—the energy is amazing. I love Amsterdam, which kind of like my home away from home. It’s a lot like New York—absolutely gorgeous and romantic. The language barrier is really not a problem. Very few people in the world (even in Europe) speak Dutch and the Dutch know this, so everyone speaks English. Let’s go!

If the DLTC attendees could only take home one lesson/message from your classes, what would it be?
Derrick: Love. Love what you are doing. Love your students. Love yourself. Love the gifts you’ve been given. Just give, be, and receive love, and you’ll be fine.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Bruce Marks; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Bruce Marks.

What do you do for fun (other than dance)?
Bruce: Kayak, swim (especially when I fall out of my kayak).

What is your favorite movie/book/TV show?
Bruce: My movie choice has to be Casablanca. TV—Downton Abbey. Book . . . too many to name.

What do you see as the most-pressing challenge facing dance studio directors/teachers today?
Bruce: Bringing style and aesthetics to the stage.

What are you looking forward to the most about teaching at the DLTC?
Bruce: Looking forward to an honest exchange of ideas.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Bill Evans; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Bill Evans.

What is your version of the perfect day?
Bill: A day spent walking in a beautiful part of the natural world, eating delicious, healthy food, and dancing to live music.

If you could have lunch with some great villains from history or fiction, who would they be?
Bill: Iago and Judas.

If you were a superhero, what special skill would you like to have?
Bill: I’d love to be able to fly.

A genie in a bottle is granting you a wish: what is it?
Bill: Live a long and healthy dancing life.

What has dance meant to you in your life?
Bill: Dance has given me a way of experiencing a rich, full, diverse, and dynamic life—working in 22 countries and meeting wonderful and interesting people.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Art Stone; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Art Stone.

What do you see as the most-pressing challenge facing dance studio directors/teachers today?
Art: The recession has hurt a large group of studios and has made registration of new and even older students very difficult.

What do you like best about teaching at the DLTC?
Art: I love teaching at DLTC because it gives me an opportunity to meet new teachers and to listen to their ideas.

If Rhee could hold his DLTC anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
Art: New York would be a great place for one of his meetings.

If the DLTC attendees could only take home one lesson/message from your classes, what would it be?
Art: I would like the teachers to feel they have learned something they can enjoy.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Tricia Gomez; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Hip Hop in a Box creator Tricia Gomez.

What person/event was the biggest inspiration in your life?
Tricia: My high school dance team director gave me the confidence I needed. My parents’ unconditional support made it easy for me to take the leap to go after my dreams, and I still rely heavily on them for emotional support, along with my husband.

What do you do for fun (other than dance)?
Tricia: I golf, I read, I’m a photographer. I love traveling—New Zealand is the most amazing place I’ve ever been!

What is your favorite movie/book/TV show?
Tricia: Hands down, the best movie ever is Moulin Rouge! True Blood is my favorite TV show. I get so excited when a new season starts. My favorite book is anything written by Jodi Picoult.

What was the hardest thing you ever did in dance?
Tricia: The hardest thing I ever did in dance was run my own dance studio in Los Angeles. The second hardest thing was deciding to sell that studio. There were so many teachers and students that I felt loyal to and that I would miss dearly. Selling the studio ended up being the best thing for everyone. It freed up my time, allowing me to pursue other dance goals. The studio got a new owner with fresh energy and ideas. My students are still enjoying class, and I’ve been able to keep up with them via Facebook and when I stop in to take class myself!

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Tonie Bense; photo courtesy DLTC

For each DanceLife Teacher Conference, Rhee Gold assembles a faculty of some of the most creative and enthusiastic leaders in the entire dance studio industry. Their resumes are impressive, for sure, but what really makes them tick? What brought them to dance, and what keeps them there? What do they love about teaching, and makes them keep moving?

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we learn more about Tonie Bense. Tonie owns two schools in Florida that serve more than 500 students. She grew up in the Meridian, Mississippi, dance studio operated by her mom, Mary Alpha Johnson, who created The Magical Kingdom of Dance encyclopedia and accompanying Alphamat to help children who are struggling to learn dance terminology.

When did you first start dancing and why?
Tonie: I first started dancing when I was learning to walk. My mother owned and operated the Alpha School of Dance, located in the basement of our home, so I literally grew up in the dance studio. My premiere performance was as the baby princess in The Sleeping Beauty at age 10 months. To dance was my only option—thank goodness I loved every minute of it. Our annual Dance Revue was the highlight of each year of my life.

Did you ever seriously consider a career in another field? What was it?
Tonie: I seriously considered being a schoolteacher and actually taught school for two years . . . my first year and then my last year.

What person/event was the biggest inspiration in your life?
Tonie: My mother, Mary Alpha Johnson, was the biggest inspiration of my life. She was optimistic her entire life and never stopped striving to live her dream. She shared her immense love of dance with hundreds of students at home and abroad. She will always be remembered for her grace, her poise, her love of life, her creativity, her perseverance, and her Southern charm.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Sandi Duncan; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Sandi Duncan.

When did you first start dancing and why?
Sandi: I started dancing when I was 2 years old because most of the girls in my neighborhood were dancers. I enjoyed class all year long, but once the recital came, I was that child who kicked and screamed before and during the performance. I wanted nothing to do with being onstage. My parents decided not to send me back to class the following fall and I became that child that once again kicked and screamed, but only because I couldn’t go to dance lessons. Needless to say, my parents quickly sent me back and I never missed another recital!

Did you ever seriously consider a career in another field? What was it?
Sandi: I am a dance educator, but also I work in the life coaching field on a part-time basis. I love to cook and would be happy traveling the world cooking for someone on their private yacht!

What has dance meant to you in your life?
Sandi: Dance has brought joy, freedom, love, friendship, struggle, creativity, peace, laughter, exploration, and most importantly, healing, to my life! I am so, so, so grateful!

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Nancy Stone; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Nancy Stone.

What is your version of the perfect day?
Nancy: A day at the beach with nothing to do but relax.

If you could have lunch with any great villains from history or fiction, who would they be?
Nancy: Bonnie and Clyde.

If you were a superhero, what special skill would you like to have?
Nancy: Seeing into the future.

A genie in a bottle is granting you three wishes: what are they?
Nancy: Love, health, and happiness. I need a fourth—perfect delivery during costume season!

What has dance meant to you in your life?
Nancy: Dance is my life!

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Nancy O’Meara; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Nancy O’Meara.

What do you see as the most pressing challenge facing dance studio directors/teachers today?
Nancy: It’s just my opinion, but it’s this: how do you define your business and make it more attractive than your competition? Why is competition a negative word? Why is one studio successful and another one is not? It’s a challenge like any other business. I can’t wait to get to know the teachers [at the DLTC] and discuss this.

As a first-time DLTC teacher, what are you looking forward to the most?
Nancy: I can’t wait to be there. I’m looking forward to it all.

If Rhee could hold his DLTC anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
Nancy: It doesn’t matter: people will follow Rhee wherever he goes.

If the DLTC attendees could only take home one lesson/message from your classes, what would it be?
Nancy: I hope it’s a vibration that runs through their entire body.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Nailah Randall-Bellinger; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Nailah Randall-Bellinger.

When did you first start dancing and why?
Nailah: I’ve always danced. I didn’t start seriously training until high school and college.

Did you ever seriously consider a career in another field? What was it?
Nailah: I have had many careers, most in education—a French and an English teacher on the elementary and secondary level.

What person/event was the biggest inspiration in your life?
Nailah: Too many to name. I’m inspired by innovative movers who aren’t afraid to make change and go against the status quo.

What do you do for fun (other than dance)?
Nailah: Yoga, hike, ice skate, read.

What is your favorite movie/book/TV show?
Nailah: Eve’s Bayou. Song of Solomon. Not a TV fan at all!

What has been your greatest accomplishment?
Nailah: Teaching in Senegal, Haiti, and performing in Bahia, Brazil, as part of the annual women’s conference.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Misty Lown; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Misty Lown.

What was the hardest thing you ever did in dance?
Misty: Everything was hard for me—ha! But, seriously, I remember being 16 and not being able to make the sounds for pickups in tap. The day the sounds showed up you would’ve thought I’d won the lottery the way I went leaping around the studio showing everyone!

On a heart level, the hardest thing has been embracing my own style and abilities. As a dancer, I gravitate towards ballet, contemporary, and lyrical, but for a long time I felt inadequate because I didn’t excel in hip-hop. The truth is I’m never going to be a great hip-hop dancer, but I can still be a great me!

What has been your greatest accomplishment?
Misty: My greatest accomplishment so far has been raising up capable leadership at my studio so that I can be home for my family after school and for dinner, homework, and bedtime. That is one of the great joys of self-employment. After all, if you can’t choose when to be at work, you don’t own a business—the business owns you.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Dance Studio Life, a magazine with a back-to-basics approach, is a division of the Rhee Gold Company, whose mission is to be at the forefront of dance and education by promoting the highest possible standards in teaching. Dance Studio Life understands the soul of the teaching field.

COLUMNS
Ask Rhee Gold Advice for dance teachers
2 Tips for Ballet Teachers | Pas de Cheval By Mignon Furman
2 Tips for Hip-Hop Teachers | Muscle Control By Geo Hubela
2 Tips for Modern Teachers | Focus on Intent  By Bill Evans
2 Tips for Tap Teachers | Clean and Simple By Stacy Eastman
A Better You | Say What? Putting a halt to hearing loss. By Suzanne Martin, PT, DPT
EditorSpeak By Cheryl A. Ossola and Karen White
On My Mind | Words from the Publisher By Rhee Gold

DEPARTMENTS
Click! | Online must-sees from the Rhee Gold Company
Join Rhee Gold on Twitter
Classroom Connection By Michele Monaghan and Holly Derville-Teer
Ideas to incorporate into your curriculum
Strength in Numbers
Dance teacher organizations- where to team up, share ideas, and be heard
Thinking Out Loud | Feedback Frenzy By Holly Derville-Teer
Teacher in the Spotlight | Aradia of Las Vegas
Teachers who make a difference
Mail Words from our readers
Mindful Marketing | Selling a Message By Misty Lown

FEATURES
ADF Abroad By Jennifer Kaplan
Modern-dance ambassadors bring American methods and ideas to the world.
Ballet Scene | Moving With the Mouse By Joshua Bartlett
Angelina Ballerina finds a new home at North American dance schools.
Bright Biz Idea | Sister Studios By Misty Lown
Sharing a teacher, sharing success.
Flying Down to Rio By Jennifer Kaplan
Step aside, Fred and Ginger-Brazil opens its arms to student dancers.
Mind Games By Kerry Ring
Physical excellence takes mental preparation.
Of the People, for the People By Brian McCormick
At BYU, international dancing is a 50-year tradition.
Russia’s Contemporary Culture By Meg Brooker
Exploration and self-expression take post-Cold War dance beyond ballet.
Two Halves, One Whole By Arisa White
Mexico and India meet onstage in a blend of dance and culture.
Work of the Heart By Joshua Bartlett
Preserving the traditions of Northwest Canada’s aboriginal dance.

.

Maureen Corso; photo courtesy DLTC

What do you do for fun (other than dance)?
Maureen: I collect egg cups. I make photo cards from snapshots that I take. I love watching HGTV when I have free time. I really enjoy cooking every night—it helps me unwind after a day of teaching and working on studio business.

What is your favorite movie/book/TV show?
Maureen: Movie: Enchanted April. TV: House Hunters International is most relaxing for me.

What was the hardest thing you ever did in dance?
Maureen: Sixteen turns from fifth on pointe in Stars and Stripes; plus Aurora’s variation from The Sleeping Beauty.

What has been your greatest accomplishment?
Maureen: My greatest accomplishment has been to stay in business for 30 years.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com

Madam Peff Modelski; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Madam Peff Modelski.

When did you first start dancing and why?
Peff: I saw Margot Fonteyn in Sleeping Beauty at age 2. Spellbound. I amazed my mother by sitting absolutely still for the whole four hours. I can remember feeling inside “this is what I am meant to be.”

Did you ever seriously consider a career in another field? What was it?
Peff: I love cats and dogs, so I thought I could be a veterinarian.

What person/event has been the biggest inspiration in your life?
Peff: It was watching Margot Fonteyn backstage before a performance, just before the curtain went up. What she was practicing wasn’t the tricks—it was the timing of the initiation of each movement. Suddenly it hit me: everything counts all the time; every movement, every thought, every part of the understanding, and every part of the attention to technique and musical timing. I had such a flow of joy form at this realization that it is what I base my teaching on. This enabled me to become an astute observer of movement details, and that enriches my life.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.

Online must-sees from the Rhee Gold Company

From the latest happenings in the dance community to some of the best articles from Dance Studio Life, plus performances, workshops, and other events for dancers and teachers, Rhee Gold’s Twitter feed will keep you up to date. Get your dose of daily inspiration along with tips for your classroom and personal life at twitter.com/RheeGold.

dancestudiolife.com | dancelifeTV.com | danceliferetreat.com
positivedance.com | dsldancewire.com

Hedy Perna; photo courtesy DLTC

In this installment of “Get to Know Your DLTC Faculty,” we continue our conversation with Hedy Perna.

What person/event was the biggest inspiration in your life?
Hedy: My dad had his own business and that inspired me to work with passion, work hard, and work for myself. My mom is such a lady—full of integrity, hard-working, and very innovative. My parents inspire me to this day. Dad is gone, but I often think of him when I have a business “situation.” (“Situation” at our studio is code for “problem”.)

What do you see as the most-pressing challenge facing dance studio directors/teachers today?
Hedy: Artistic standards versus paying the bills. Besides the escalating costs to run a business—overhead, salaries, insurances, taxes, etc.—it is becoming harder to get parents to accept standards and accountability for their children. Of course dance is fun, but it is discipline and educational, also. If parents make it through the first year of my expectations, they usually are on board with our philosophy. What you learn in dance class is way beyond dance. However, in this day of political correctness, I can see it will be more and more difficult to deal with the business of parents.

To learn more about the DanceLife Teacher Conference scheduled for August 1 to 4 in Scottsdale, Arizona, visit www.dancelifeteacherconference.com.